Highway marker



Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES FRANCIS 0.HELTZEL, OF YOUNGSTOWN,OI-IIO HIGHWAY MARKER Application filed September 13, 1932. Serial No.632,888.

The invention relates to highway or traffic markers for use on pavementsof roads, streets and the like where it is intended to mark for zoningpurposes such as street crossings, safety zones or traiiic lanes and thelike.

An object of the invention is to provide a marker having a slightlyconvex surface provided with a plurality of grooves to prevent theskidding of automobiles which may pass over the same; the grooves allentending from the central or higher .portion of the marker to theperipheral or lower portion thereof so as to drain all moisture from thesurface of the marker.

Another object is to provide a substantial bearing surface, both at thecentral portion and peripheral portion of the marker, upon the pavementto which it is applied so as to prevent distortion or flattening of themark- "er under the weight of heavy trucks, busses or other vehicles.

A still further object of the improvement is to provide a novel spike orpin for fastening the improved marker to the pavement.

The above together with other objects may be attained by constructingthe improved marker in the manner described in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichFigure 1 is a top plan view of the improved marker showing the groovesthereon in the form of a tive pointed star;

Fig. 2, a similar view showing the grooves forming a four pointed star;

Fig. 3, a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the configuration of aneight pointed star;

Fig. 4, a vertical section through one of '40 the improved markersshowing the same spiked in position on a pavement;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary sectional view as on the line 5-5 of Figs. 1, 2 or3;

Fig. 6, a transverse sectional view of the lower portion of the spiketaken as on the line 6 6, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7, a side elevation of a inodied form of spike or pin; and

Fig. 8, a similar view of a further modification thereof.

Y Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

The improved marker may comprise a sheet metal disk 10 which is slightlyconveX as best shownin Fig. 4 and provided 55 with the central depressedportion or pocket 11 to receive the head of the spike or pin as will belater described.

The bottom wall of this pocketmay be provided with a cross-shapedopening 12to .60 receive the improved spike, forming apart of theinvention, which may be of either cross shape or flat in cross section,as will be later described in detail.

. The peripheral portion of the disk ispreferably flattened outas shownat 13 in order to provide a bearing surface upon the pavement indicatedat 14 in Fig. 4.

Inorder to strengthen the marker so yas to prevent distortion of thesame by vehicles passing thereover, as well a's to provide a nonskidsurface upon the same, and also to provide for drainage of all moisturefrom the central or higher portion ofthe marker tothe periphery thereof,a plurality of straight grooves 15 are formed in the upper surface ofthev marker disk leading from the center higher portion ofthe diskoutward and downward to the flat peripheral rim portion 13, the outerends of said grooves being flush with said flat peripheral portion, asindicated at 16. These grooves may be formed in the marker by stampingor pressing as shown in Fig. "5, producing the reinforcing ribs 17 `uponthe underside 85 'of the marker disk.

In order to provide for the drainage of all moisture outward anddownward from the central higher portion of the disk, the

inner ends of adjacent grooves should communicate as indicated at 18 andthe invention is preferably carried out by so arranging the grooves asto produce a star-shaped configuration which may be in the form of afive pointed star as showniin Fig. 1, a four pointedstar as shown inFig. 2, an eight pointed star as shown in Fig. 3 or a star shape of anyother varrangement .which may be desired.

In placing the marker disk uponr a pavement it will be seen, as shown inFig. 4, that the peripheral rim portion 13 will have a bearing surfaceupon the pavement while the central raised portion of the disk will bespaced slightly above the pavement. In order to provide a substantialbearing surface for the central portion of ,the disk, a washer 19, asshown in Fig. 4, may `beprovided resting flat upon the pavementwa-ndforming a bearing surface oi the central Pocke POlt-OH 11 of the disk'andalso'ioi the innel` communicating ends @fighe 1.9,@ A

forcing ribs 17, thus providing a substantial bearing surface for thegreaterlfportion ofthe marker disk and preventing flattening ordistortion oi' the same by weight of heavy vehicles passing thereover. t

Ihe improved spike formi-ng a part ofthe 'invention is' preferably ofcross 'shape in cross section so as to' fit within the crossshapedopening 12 in the central pocket 11 of the disk and to prevent rotationof the disk. The spike is lindicated generally at '20 and the Vhead 21thereof` maybe slightly tapered or 'flared as at 22 to snugly iit withinthe central depression or pocket 11 of the marker disk, the top of 'ythe head being slightly convexed as' at 23'to contorni to the contour ofthe upper surface of the disk.

Staggercd V-shaped notches 24 may be formed inthe edges of the'wings ofthe crosssliaped spike or pin or ii' desired, these notches may be of Xshapeas shown at 24a in Fig. 7. These-notches are for thepurpose ofpermitting the pavinginaterial, in dicated generally at 25, to creepinto the saine, 'in order to hold the spike firmly lin necessary todrive the spike into 'a-narrow breaker strip oi asphaltfor thelikelocated in a concrete or ceinent'pavement, the thicky ness of the spikebeing just sufficient to permit it to be driven into the asphalt breakerstrip between the adjacent concreteY surfaces.

rIhis fiat spike is relatively'thin in `cross section, being of the.same thickness as the arms or bladesof'the cross-shaped spike and isvery well adapted ordriving into the nar-row premolded or pouredjo'iiits of asphalt or tai` which are used in some pavements of cementand the like, thel flat' spike being of substantially the same thicknessas the preinolded or po'u'red joint:l

I claim:

1. A marker having a convex upper surf face and a plurality of angulargrooves in said upper surface leading from the central higher portion tothe outer edge or the marker, said grooves forming a star shape upon thesurface-.of the marker.

2.V Aniarker having a convex upper surface and a plurality of angulargrooves in said upper surface leading from the central higher portion tothe outer edge of the mar-lier, `said grooves forminga tive pointed starshape upon the surface of the marker.

'f3-.f 'A marker having a convex upper surface and a plurality ofangular grooves in said upper surface leading from the central vhigherportion to the outer edge of the marker, said grooves forming a fourpointed starshape upon the surface of the marker.

4. 'A marker having a .convex upper surface and a plurality oit' angulargrooves in 'said upper surface leading from the central higher portionto the outer edge of the marker, said grooves forming an eight poi-ntedstar shape upon the surface of the marke-r.

5. A marker hav-ing a conve-X upper surface and a plurality of (ngulargrooves in said upper 1surr'ace leading trom the centr-al higher portionto the outer .edge vof the marker, said grooves forming -a star shapeupon the surface of the marker, the outer ends of said grooves beingilus-h with the outer edge portion of the. marker.

` (i. A'inarker formed from a sin-gie sheet of' metal of convex shapehaving a plurality of angular grooves in its upper surface andcorresponding ribs in its under surface, the inner` ends of adJacentgrooves p communicating with each other, the outer redge portion of themarker bei-ng adapted to bear upon a pavement, and a washer bearing uponthe pavement and supporting .the `central portion of the markerincluding the Iinner end portions of said ribs. y

In testimony that I claim the above, I havehereunto subscribed my name.

" FRANCIS OQ HELTZEL.

